Top quarks: study achieves quantum entanglement with heavier particles

In a new study published in the scientific journal Nature, a team of researchers describes the use of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest particle accelerator, in Switzerland: to describe entanglement in quark pairs.

When quantum objects are entangled, they remain connected even if they are physically separated by thousands of kilometers, meaning that when you make a measurement on one of these objects, the state of the other will be instantly correlated based on the type of entanglement. Previously this was just a theory but the concept has now been proven in photons..

First Science first observed quantum entanglement in the mid-1980s, when researchers were able to show that photons were connected even though they were separated. Since then, many of the experiments involving the phenomenon have been reproduced with atoms, subatomic particles, and other light elements.

Entanglement is one of the most important concepts in quantum mechanics, so by studying the phenomenon, researchers are delving deeper into a crucial area for science.The difference in the new study is precisely the use of top quarks, an extremely heavy elementary particle.

“Entanglement is a fundamental property of quantum mechanics with applications in areas such as metrology, cryptography, quantum information and quantum computation. It has been observed in a wide variety of systems and length scales, from the microscopic to the macroscopic level,” the study’s introduction said.

Quantum entanglement in top quarks

Quarks are tiny particles protons and neutrons form atoms, and molecules are made up of atomsThere are six types of quarks in total, the top quark being the sixth and heaviest. It was exactly this fundamental particle that was studied in the new quantum entanglement experiment at the LHC.

The researchers used the ATLAS detector at the LHC. To observe the highest energy entanglement of particles ever recorded. They explain that measurements of this entanglement and other quantum concepts could help carry out tests of the current Standard Model of Particle Physics.

“Although particle physics has deep roots in quantum mechanics, it is remarkable that quantum entanglement is observed in a new particle system and at much higher energy than previously possible. It paves the way for new research into this fascinating phenomenon.“As our data samples continue to grow, we are opening up a rich menu of discoveries,” ATLAS spokesperson Andreas Hoecker said in an official statement.

Always stay informed about the latest discoveries in quantum physics on TecMundo. Enjoy reading the study that measured the effect of the Earth’s rotation on quantum entangled photons. Until later!